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WVILLIAM H. WVINSLOW, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK.

MAGNETIC- -OXIDE- OF- -IRON-PLATED WARE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,105, dated November2%, 1885.

Application filed April 30, 1885. Serial No. 164,024. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WINsLoW,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Magnetic-Oxide-of Iron-Plated fare; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists of a metallic object plated with magnetic oxide ofiron. I have practically and successfully produced metallic objects thusplated by first electroplating the metallic object with iron in theordinary way, and then converting the electro-deposit of iron intomagnetic oxide of iron, one way of accomplishing which is to subject theironplated object to an atmosphere of superheated steam. Other modes maysuggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed todescribe it as applied to a copper electrotype. For ironplating-such aselectrotype-I have used with very satisfactory results a bath preparedfrom a solution of twenty (20) parts of sal-ammoniac in one hundred(100) parts of water electrolyzed by the use of two wroughtiron platesfor anode and cathode, respectively. The point of proper saturation ofthe bath having been reached, which may be as certained by the ordinarytest method, the iron cathode is removed and the copper electrotype putin its place. The electrotype becomes rapidly covered with a deposit ofiron. The plating must be carefully conducted in order that the depositmay be bright and as smooth as the surface of the electrotype, becausethe beauty of the finish attained by the conversion of the depositediron coat into magnetic oxide of iron depends largely on the characterof the preliminary plating. I find that about an hours suspension inthis bath produces a thick enough film of iron on the surface of theelectrotype to serve the purpose of the final operation. The iron-coatedelectrotype is then introduced into a fire-proof muffle filled with anatmosphere of superheated steam at a temperature of from l000 to 1200Fahrenheit. An exposure to this steam atmosphere of from five to sevenminutes converts the iron coat on the surface of the electrotype intomagnetic oxide of iron. Care must be exercised to so time the exposureto the steam atmosphere that the iron coat only is converted. If theexposure be continued too long, the surface of the copper beneath theiron will be oxidized also, as a consequence of which themagneticoxide-of-iron coat or plating will lose its hold on the copper,and can be rubbed off easily. The magnetic-oxide-ofiron plating thusproduced is very coherent, and has a steel bluish-black color, veryattractive to the eye. Its hard and non-corrosive qualities are wellknown.

My invention is applicable to all articles of manufacture and objects ofart in metals that are susceptible of being coated with anelectro-deposit of iron, which can afterward be converted into magneticoxide without injury to the article itself.

I am aware that metallic objects-letterpress electrotypes, forinstance-have heretofore been plated with iron or steel; also, thatobjects of iron have heretofore been provided with a coating of magneticoxide by a direct conversion of the surface of the iron object; but Ibelieve that I am the first to have covered metallic objects with anelectroplated coat of magnetic oxide of iron. I am also aware of UnitedStates patent No. 106,823.

The plated coating described in that patent is of a charactersubstantially different from my magnetic-oxide-of-iron coating.

The herein-described art of covering metallic objects with anelectroplated coat of magnetic oxide of iron is claimed in myapplication for a United States patent filed June 2, 188-1, Serial No.133,617.

I claim as my invention An electroplated metallic object, the platedcoat of which is magnetic oxide of iron, substantially as before setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. WINSLOW.

Witnesses:

F. A. WINsLow, B. B. BRoWNn.

